IRONMAN 70.3 Qujing

Running legs proved the key for Italy’s Domenico Passuello and the USA’s Sarah Piampiano when they grabbed their first wins over the distance this year at IRONMAN 70.3 Qujing in China.

Passuello, who has not win since 2015, came off the bike locked with New Zealand multisport guru Dougal Allen and less than three minutes to the chasers. His 1:18 run secured victory in 3:54:06, with 1:38 to Allan while Ukraine’s ex ITU athlete Daniil Sapunov ran 1:19 to push through to third but five minutes from the winner. Passuello and Sapunov were the only athletes to run under 1:20.

American Sarah Piampiano had a 2:45 buffer on compatriot Kelsey Withrow off the bike but her 1:27 run paved the way for victory in 4:18:17. Withrow held for second but 12:42 back with Aussie Kate Bevilaqua claiming her second podium in eight day for third, over 25 minutes behind the winner.

Piampiano has been impressive over the full IRONMAN distance in recent times. She was second at IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Champs in Cairns this year, won at Vineman last year and at Western Australia in 2015. But this showed she is still a threat as one of the best bike-runners in the sport. She had the best bike and run splits in China.

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy

Frederik van Lierde looks like he is fit, healthy, and ready for the IRONMAN world championship. Seven weeks out of the most important race of the year, the 2013 world champ proved his form at the IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy. Van Lierde was more than solid in each discipline and controlled the race right from the start. Swiss Manuel Kueng pushed away in the water, however, it was not a surprise that a strong chase group lined up behind him including van Lierde and Germany’s Andi Boecherer. Boecherer, a two-time IRONMAN European championship runner-up, didn’t have his best day, but he could stay with van Lierde throughout the whole bike course. Boecherer had some issues on the run, but he nailed second place behind the strong performing Belgian.

The women’s race was similarly dominated by a fast Swiss swimmer during the first part of the day. Celine Schaerer put more than 3 minutes on her chasers, then pushed hard on the bike to stay in front of American Jocelyn McCauley. The winner of IRONMAN New Zealand hammered out the fastest split onto the course and tested herself successfully for the IRONMAN world championship. McCauley made her pass with 10 kilometers to go on the bike. It took some more time to drop Schaerer, though. Like Boecherer did in men’s race, Schaerer gave her best to keep up with the leader’s pace, but McCauley’s pace finally was way too high for the Swiss runner-up.

IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun

Boris Stein made the decisive move in the men’s race during the swim in the beautiful Lake Zell at IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun. He had one of the best swims of his career in the crystal-clear water and reached the first transition only 1:57 behind the lead. The weaker swimmer is well known for his impressive bike rides, and that’s what Stein did again in Zell. His fellow countryman Nils Frommhold had the fastest swim and set off for a fast bike, too. But Stein downsized the gap step by step. It looked like Stein would take over the lead on the tough bike course including spectacular climbs and views early, but Frommhold really pushed the speed button and reached T2 with a gap of 50 seconds. After seven kilometers of the run, Stein eventually benefited from his strong swim performance. He took the lead while Frommhold had to undergo a second tough battle with Austria’s Andreas Giglmayr for second place.

Laura Philipp came from behind in women’s race, too. Anja Beranek was side by side with Austria’s Beatrice Weiss in the water, but it was no question that the strong German biker would take control of the race early on the bike course. Beranek dropped Weiss and she was pushing hard to open up a gap to Philipp, but the winner of the IRONMAN 70.3 Austria and the IRONMAN 70.3 Mallorca proved her bike and running strength again. Philipp took over the lead early on the bike and hammered away from Beranek who took silver with a huge smile after ranking third at the world championship here two years before.

New Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 Davao Triathlon Announced Celebrating 10 Years in the Philippines

IRONMAN announced the addition of the ALVEO IRONMAN 70.3 Davao triathlon in Davao City, Philippines. Following the announcement of the first full-distance IRONMAN event in the Philippines, which will take place in Subic Bay on June 3, the ALVEO IRONMAN 70.3 Davao becomes the second addition to the 2018 race calendar in the Philippines. Next year marks the 10th anniversary of the first IRONMAN event in the Philippines (Camarines Sur on August 23, 2009).

With races that have taken place in Luzon and Visayas, IRONMAN will now set foot in Mindanao, extending its presence across all three island groups of the Philippines. Davao City has experienced continuous growth and developed infrastructure in recent years to become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. Athletes will have an easy journey through Davao City’s international airport with direct flights from Manila, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, and will have a wide selection of world-class hotels to enjoy their stay in Davao, which is located on the east coast of Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

IRONMAN Foundation: Bikes Bikes Bikes

Last week at IRONMAN headquarters in Tampa, Florida, the North American Global Partnerships and IRONMAN Foundation teams came together to support two local nonprofits that serve kids in need: Mary Lee's House and The Spring of Tampa Bay. The IRONMAN Foundation was inspired to learn about both organizations and the hope they bring to kids surviving domestic violence and the trauma of child abuse. IRONMAN Foundation surprised both groups with our gift of 20 youth bicycles and helmets and grant awards. At an event at headquarters, the team broke out into to six groups for a bike build competition. The teams assembled 18 bikes in just 31 minutes under the watchful eye of master bike techs Ryan and Miguel from Outspokin Bicycles. The two fastest teams moved on to the final round. Epic bragging rights go to "Team F" for assembling their final bike in just four minutes! It was a fun afternoon of giving back and sending a message of hope and strength to kids who need it most. #RaceForMore #ServiceThroughSport #CommitmentToCommunity

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The Buzz: What We're Reading, Gossiping About, and Loving in the Endurance Sports World

Maybe it’s because the long Labor Day weekend looms ahead here in the U.S. Or maybe it’s because it’s only Monday, but already the weekend is all we can think about. Or maybe we’re just feeling a bit beat up after a few long days of training. Whatever the reason, we’re ruminating on the themes of rest, relaxation, happiness, and life balance. And we’re intrigued as heck by this piece in Runner’s World, highlighting public nap pods. Would you pay by the minute for extra Zs?

"Life balance" has been trending for some time now. Everyone talks about it—it’s like some elusive golden ticket to getting things right, to nailing the perfect ratio of a never-ending to-do list, work and family responsibilities, and positive health and fitness practices. But what if life balance isn’t all it’s cracked up to be? In this New York Times article, author Brad Stulberg admits, “The times in my life during which I’ve felt happiest and most alive are also the times that I’ve been the most unbalanced.” If you can make time amidst all your other commitments, it’s certainly worth a read.

While you’re busy being esoteric, take a look at this musing from the Book of Life, which argues that happiness is too simple a concept, not allowing for the struggle or pain that often accompanies deep fulfillment (sound familiar, IRONMAN athletes?). You’ll pick up a new vocabulary word therein: eudaimonia. What does eudaimonia mean? Read the article, silly!

Speaking of life balance, happiness, and/or suffering, have you ever wondered what it really takes to successfully "go pro" in our sport? In a candid blog post for Triathlon Magazine Canada, IRONMAN Champion Angela Naeth shares the sacrifices she made in her early years, driven by the question: "Am I willing to find fear, and run toward it?"

Babbittville's 2017 Road to Kona

We are 50 days away from the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship, which means it is time for our third annual Babbittville #KonaCountdown.

This year's countdown will feature 50 of Babbittville's favorite Kona sound bites from their radio show and can be found IRONMAN Hall of Fame inducteeBob Babbitt's Facebook page here.

Click the image above for the first installment.

Instagram of the Week

There’s no doubt that happiness reigns supreme in the O’Donnell household. Power couple IRONMAN World Champion Mirinda Carfrae and IRONMAN Champion Tim O’Donnell celebrated the arrival of their first-born on August 22nd. Welcome to the world, little Izzy—we’re all excited to meet you!